ABSTRACT
Human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, have the ability for neurotropism. Commonly reported neurologic complications of SARS-CoV-2 infections include encephalopathy, neuromuscular disorders, and acute cerebrovascular disorders. Other complications, such as postinfectious demyelination, encephalitis, and seizures, occur less often, but are probably under-reported given the lack of diagnostic information, such as cerebrospinal fluid sampling and electroencephalogram monitoring. Clinicians should have a high clinical suspicion for associated neurologic complications in a COVID-19–infected patient.
- Copyright © 2020 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
- Ibrahim Migdady, MD
- Sung-Min Cho, DO⇑
- Departments of Neurology, Neurological Intensive Care, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Correspondence:
Sung-Min Cho, DO, Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Division of NCCU, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Phipps 455, Baltimore, MD 21287; csungmi1{at}jhmi.edu
ABSTRACT
Human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, have the ability for neurotropism. Commonly reported neurologic complications of SARS-CoV-2 infections include encephalopathy, neuromuscular disorders, and acute cerebrovascular disorders. Other complications, such as postinfectious demyelination, encephalitis, and seizures, occur less often, but are probably under-reported given the lack of diagnostic information, such as cerebrospinal fluid sampling and electroencephalogram monitoring. Clinicians should have a high clinical suspicion for associated neurologic complications in a COVID-19–infected patient.
- Copyright © 2020 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.